Used primarily in pharmaceutical research as a key intermediate in the synthesis of immunomodulatory drugs, particularly those related to thalidomide analogs. It plays a critical role in the development of targeted protein degraders such as PROTACs, where it serves as a ligand for cereblon (CRBN), a component of the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. By recruiting cereblon, this compound enables the selective degradation of disease-related proteins, making it valuable in oncology and inflammatory disease research. Its structure allows for chemical modifications that enhance binding affinity, selectivity, and pharmacokinetic properties in drug candidates.